I got the opportunity to try the first perfume by Hungarian perfumer Viktoria Minya and I must say that I did not go into this testing unbiased. Actually, I expected not to like this perfume at all. Why? Let’s see…

I was expecting a perfume that was opulent and assertive or if I were a bit less diplomatic – loud and overbearing. Not my cup of tea, in other words.

All that was of course before I “laid nose” on it. My premature judgements were solely based on the name, the notes and the golden bottle. I put off testing it, since my policy is to never write a bad review about a small brand, I’d rather keep my mouth shut in that case, because it is only my opinion after all, and as such it should not wield any negative power.

Thankfully I did change my mind, tried the sample and it turned out to be just one more incident of me being entirely, and utterly wrong.

Hedonist turned out to be one of those perfumes that render me pretty much speechless.

Not wordless, mind you, since, on the contrary, I immediately started spewing forth a plethora of words, a multitude of phrases and images that crowded my mind and I talked about this perfume to everyone near me, whether they want to listen or not.

But when it came to reviewing it, i.e. putting that wave of emotional blabber into coherent sentences following a logical structure, I had to delare defeat.

Maybe if I took a step back and let my rational mind take over, I could produce a sensible, “objective” (haha) and at least somewhat distanced review. But I tell you what, I don’t want to.

I’m having too much fun just indulging, just swooning, just being there with the golden beauty that is Hedonist, right now, in the moment, without becoming too cerebral.

Hedonist smells natural, soft and powerful at the same time. It smells of human skin warmed by the sun. It feels like the surface of white petals, infinitely soft and delicate, but sturdy as well, this is not easily destroyed, it can take on wind and storm and rain, and still smell of the sunshine that is forever captured in its heart…

And I guess that is what Hedonist is all about, what perfume in general is all about. Who cares what note comes when all the time. What we care about is that it takes us with it, it ravishes us, it lures us in, it makes us happy, it makes us laugh, it makes us roll our eyes back in our heads and sigh contentedly. It makes us want it, it makes us chase it, it makes us delight in the fact that we can smell something so good, so delicious, so gorgeous.

Hedonist is stream of consciousness, is flight of fancy, is a wildly beating heart full of joy and laughter.

Hedonist is life and love, here and now. Indulge, give in to your senses.

Rarely has a perfume had a more fitting name.

Hedonist is available through viktoriaminya.com, samples are available as well as international shipping. Viktoria Minya on Facebook is here. Luckyscent also carries it since last week.

I very much wanted to like this, and thought it had a rich, unctuous, well blended texture comparable to Roja Dove Scandal or Joy, but the honey note combined with the rum? / tobacco? / vetiver? – something earthy – gave it a funny ‘off kilter’ note that didn’t work on me. And I have witnesses! :-(. It does feel very expensive and luxurious, and on the right skin (and yours is magic!) it could be a different proposition altogether.

Freddie also reviewed it – and he agreed it was ‘orrible on me ! – though his overall take was more positive. Well, he loved the opening, but also was dogged by a jarring note in the later stages. I was also reminded of Patou’s Que Sais-Je – another peachy boozy number – and of L’Heure Fougueuse if you drenched it in honey. Neither of which agreed with me either, sadly, but I am happy you liked this one so much. Texturally I would rate it highly, just not how it smells. Which may sound like damning with faint praise, but I don’t think I will find anyone who likes it on me. Kafka was wildly enthusiastic though.

after hearing Kafka’s take on this one I was extremely tempted to try….B you have set me over the edge…MUST SAMPLE THIS!!!!! And that bottle …..(yes, I am swooning!) Fantastic review….i always love reading about the emotonal effect of perfume….obviously this perfume had just that on you :D!!

Don’t tempt me. I’m in a spending mood and I’m just nutty enough to do a blind buy of this one because everyone seems to love it. I’m going to go back to doing my housework and hope the feeling passes.

Isn’t Hedonist magnificent? To me it’s rich composition but at the same time there’s that airy quality to it that causes this perfume to be very pleasant and not overly sweet or cloying!
I love it’s shiny and shimmering facets.

Oh, I’m thrilled to hear that you love this as much as I do! Fantastic review, Birgit – you really captured Hedonist!!

I truthfully think this is one of the best newly-launched perfumes to come out in ages, and will be buying a bottle before the year is out (and probably sooner than that) – that’s how much I connected with this perfume.

I read your review today (I didn’t want to be influenced before) and I love that we both are so enchanted with Hedonist. But I’m not at all surprised, this is a perfume that has your name all over it! :)

It was late yesterday so I’ve just jumped into Vanessa’s branch, but I want to comment now that – as much as I enjoy all your posts – there are some that stand out even by your standards. And this is one of those. You wrote a wonderful review. And regardless of whether this perfumes work for me or not, I think it definitely deserves to be tested. So I’m glad that people get excited about it and are ordering samples based on positive reviews.

What a gorgeous review – I’m really quite tempted to sample this now :) Peach is in the perfect note for early summer, isn’t it – I’ve been enjoying the peach-skin aspect of Nasomatto Nuda, and am keen to try Keiko Mecheri’s peach (I think it’s called Peau de Peche). My only fear is that Hedonist might be too sweet.

Just finally managed to get my sample of ‘Hedonist’, & am so glad that your review was the one that finally enticed me to do so, coz I totally agree with your review – So thanx B’ ! :) … I almost dismissed it altogether after reading Thomas’ (CPB) rather negative review (which has turned out to probably be his one review I’ve most disagreed with. And thoroughly surprised me too as I imagined it would be just the sort of ‘fume he’d go ‘ga-ga’ for instead. After all he luvs far heavier & more ‘overindulgent’ stuff, yet finds this too much ?? I just don’t get his aversion to it. In fact I think it’s a rather unfair review. After all it almost put me off so will probably do so many others. Which I think is rather unfair to small new labels. Which is why I agree & really respect your views & practice on this matter.) – But I suppose bottom line – everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, so … . I just encourage everyone to never be put off by any review (or notes-list for that matter), coz u might very well be surprised. (as both you & I just were on this occasion.) :)

Yes indeed it is ! And liking it more & more each day it seems. Like u I also found it so different from what I expected. … I think my ‘nose-aesthetic’ lies somewhere smack-bang between yours & CPB’s. :)

Yes I’m certainly thinking I want one – (tho half of me is desperately trying to convince me I just don’t need it.) – But, it IS calling me quite persistently & loudly … (so we’ll have to see which wins out in the end (??) :)